file(1)                  USER COMMANDS                    file(1)



NAME
     file - determine file type

SYNOPSIS
     file [-h] [-m mfile] [-f ffile] arg ...
     file [-h] [-m mfile] -f ffile
     file -c [-m mfile]

DESCRIPTION
     file performs a series of tests on each file supplied by arg
     and,  optionally,  on  each  file  supplied  in  ffile in an
     attempt to classify it.  If arg appears to be a  text  file,
     file  examines  the  first  512 bytes and tries to guess its
     programming language.  If arg is an executable  a.out,  file
     prints the version stamp, provided it is greater than 0.  If
     arg is a symbolic link, by default the link is followed  and
     file tests the file that the symbolic link references.

     -c    Check the magic file for format errors.   For  reasons
           of efficiency, this validation is normally not carried
           out.

     -f ffile
           ffile contains the names of the files to be examined.

     -h    Do not follow symbolic links.

     -m mfile
           Use mfile as  an  alternate  magic  file,  instead  of
           /etc/magic.

     file uses /etc/magic to identify files  that  have  a  magic
     number.  A magic number is a numeric or string constant that
     indicates the file type.  Commentary  at  the  beginning  of
     /etc/magic explains its format.

FILES
     /etc/magic

SEE ALSO
     filehdr(4) in the System Administrator's Reference Manual.

DIAGNOSTICS
     If the -h option is specified and arg is  a  symbolic  link,
     file prints the error message:

          symbolic link to arg








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